Image processing method and image processing system

ABSTRACT

An information processor includes a first input unit configured to accept designation of an enlargement/reduction rate, an extraction unit configured to extract a first output setting for printout at the designated enlargement/reduction rate and a second output setting different from the first output setting for printout at the designated enlargement/reduction rate, a calculation unit configured to calculate a first fee for the first output setting and a second fee for the second output setting, a display configured to display the first output setting and the first fee in association with each other, and the second output setting and the second fee in association with each other, a second input unit configured to receive a selection of one of the first output setting and the second output setting, and a controller configured to cause the execution of image formation onto a medium with the selected output setting.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority based on 35 USC 119 from prior JapanesePatent Application No. 2012-205327 filed on Sep. 19, 2012, entitled“IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND IMAGE PROCESSINGPROGRAM”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an image processing method, an image processingsystem, and an image processing program that charge a fee for printing.

Some conventional image processing methods are designed to calculate afee for printing by using a unit price of printing medium that takesinto account the number of printed printing media, the toner used, adesignated printing density, and a designated reduction rate (see, forexample, Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2002-32199)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the conventional technique, there is not an apparatusconfigured to extract output settings for a printout and to allow usersto select one of the settings. Accordingly, the users' convenience islow.

An object of an embodiment of the invention is to improve the users'convenience.

A first aspect of the invention is an image processing system thatincludes: an image processor configured to create print data; and animage formation unit configured to print the print data. The imageprocessor includes: an enlargement/reduction rate designation unitconfigured to prompt a user to designate an enlargement/reduction rateto be used to create the print data; an information acquisition unitconfigured to acquire size information and unit price information of aprinting medium stored in the image formation unit; an output modeextraction unit configured to extract output modes based on thedesignated enlargement/reduction rate and the size information of theprinting medium acquired by the information acquisition unit; a feecalculation unit configured to, for each of the output modes extractedby the output mode extraction unit, calculate the number of printingmedia to be used from the size information of the printing mediumacquired by the information acquisition unit, and calculate a fee fromthe calculated number of printing media and the unit price informationacquired by the information acquisition unit; an output mode displayunit configured to cause a display to display the output modes and thefees calculated corresponding to the respective output modes by the feecalculation unit, and thereby prompt the user to select one of theoutput modes; and a print data creation unit configured to create theprint data based on the selected output mode.

A second aspect of the invention is an image processing method in animage processor to create print data and an image formation unit tocharge for printing the print data. The image processor includes: anenlargement/reduction rate designation step of prompting a user todesignate an enlargement/reduction rate to be used to create the printdata; an information acquisition step of acquiring size information andunit price information of a printing medium stored in the imageformation unit; an output mode extraction step of extracting outputmodes based on an enlargement/reduction rate designated at theenlargement/reduction rate designation step and the size information ofthe printing medium acquired at the information acquisition step; a feecalculation step of, for each of the output modes extracted by theoutput mode extraction unit, calculating the number printing media to beused from the size information of the printing medium acquired at theinformation acquisition step, and calculating a fee from the calculatednumber of printing media and the unit price information acquired at theinformation acquisition step; an output mode display step of displayingthe output modes and the fees calculated corresponding to the respectiveoutput mode at the fee calculation step, and thereby prompting the userto select one of the output modes; and a print data creation step ofcreating the print data based on the output mode selected at the outputmode display step.

A third aspect of the invention is an information processor thatincludes: a first input unit configured to accept designation of anenlargement/reduction rate; an extraction unit configured to extract afirst output setting for printout at the designatedenlargement/reduction rate and a second output setting different fromthe first output setting for printout at the designatedenlargement/reduction rate; a calculation unit configured to calculate afirst fee for the first output setting and a second fee for the secondoutput setting; a display configured to display the first output settingand the first fee in association with each other, and the second outputsetting and the second fee in association with each other; a secondinput unit configured to accept any one of selections of the firstoutput setting and the second output setting; and a controllerconfigured to cause the execution of image formation onto a medium withthe output setting selected through the second input unit.

These aspects of the invention can improve the user convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an imageprocessing system in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printerdriver in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of enlarged print data in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an enlargement mode setting screen in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of reduced print data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a reduction mode setting screen in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a charge setting list in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print setting changeprocessing in the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print data creationprocessing in the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an enlargement/reductionmode list creation processing in the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an enlargement/reductionmode list creation processing in the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an enlargement/reductionmode creation processing in the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an enlargement/reductionmode creation processing in the first embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of fee calculation processingin the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of fee calculation processingin the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of fee calculation processingin the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of fee calculation processingin the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of enlargement/reduction mode IDs in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a table of items in an enlargement/reduction mode list in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of an example of an enlargement/reductionmode list in the first embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an illustration of another example of anenlargement/reduction mode list in the first embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an imageformation apparatus in a second embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing in thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a copy setting changeprocessing in the second embodiment; and

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print data creationprocessing in the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Descriptions are provided hereinbelow for embodiments based on thedrawings. In the respective drawings referenced herein, the sameconstituents are designated by the same reference numerals and duplicateexplanation concerning the same constituents is omitted. All of thedrawings are provided to illustrate the respective examples only.

Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, embodiments of an imageprocessing method, an image processing system, and an image processingprogram are described.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an imageprocessing system in a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the image processingsystem includes computer 1 as an image processing apparatus (an imageprocessor) configured to create print data, and printer 2 as an imageformation apparatus (an image formation unit) configured to charge forprinting the print data. Computer 1 and printer 2 are connected via acommunication line so as to be communicated with each other. Computer 1includes input unit 11, controller 12, display 13, data transmitter 14,data receiver 15, and storage 16.

Controller 12 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) andthe like, and controls input unit 11, display 13, data transmitter 14,and data receiver 15 based on various kinds of programs (software)stored in storage 16 to control an entire operation of computer 1. Inputunit 11 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and receives aninput operation from user P. Display 13 includes, for example, an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) and is caused by control of controller 12 todisplay text or images on the screen.

The data transmitter 14 is controlled by the controller 12 to sendprinter 2 data received from the storage 16. Data receiver 15 receivesthe data transmitted from printer 2. The storage 16 is configured of,for example, a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and an HD(Hard Disc) and includes OS (Operating System Software) 31, application(software) 32, printer driver (software) 33, print setting 34, andcharge setting 35.

OS 31 is software which is executed by controller 12 to provideinput/output functions such as data input from input unit 11 or screenoutput to display 13 and basic functions to be commonly used byapplication 32, such as management of storage 16, and manages entirecomputer 1. Application 32 is software which is managed by OS 31. Also,OS 31 and application 32 include a function to instruct printer driver33 to print data inputted by user P via input unit 11 with an input of aprint command by pressing down a “print” button or the like which isdisplayed on display 13 with an operation of input unit 11 by user P.

Printer driver 33 is a program to convert document data created inapplication 32 into data in a format capable of being interpreted byprinter 2, and is a program to provide user P with a GUI (Graphical UserInterface) as a screen for setting the functions of printer 2 or printerdriver 33 before printing. Print setting 34 as print setting informationis for storing, for example, an enlargement/reduction rate, which is anenlargement rate or a reduction rate, a document paper size and aprinting paper size as setting values.

Charge setting 35 as charge setting information is a copy of chargesetting 28 stored in storage 27 of printer 2 to be described later andhas the same configuration as that of charge setting 28. Printer 2includes data receiver 21, data transmitter 22, controller 23, inputunit 24, display 25, printer 26, storage 27, and paper storage 29.Controller 23 is configured of, for example, a CPU to control an entireoperation of printer 2 by controlling data receiver 21, data transmitter22, input unit 24, display 25, printer 26, and paper storage 29 based onvarious programs and data which are stored in storage 27.

Storage 27 is configured of a RAM or HD which stores print settinginformation, print data, charge setting 28, or the like, and a ROM (ReadOnly Memory) which stores firmware, character font data, or the like asvarious programs for controlling printer 2. Input unit 24 includes anoperation button disposed on an operation panel, for example, to receivean input operation made by user P. Display 25 includes, for example, anLCD and is caused by control of controller 23 to display text or imageson the screen.

The data transmitter 22 is controlled by the controller 23 to transmitdata to computer 1. The data receiver 21 receives the data transmittedfrom the computer 1. Printer 26 is a print mechanism to print data ontoprinting paper. Paper storage 29 includes, for example, tray A41, trayB42, tray C43, tray D44, and tray E45, so to be capable of respectivelystoring different sizes or kinds of printing media in the trays andsupplying printer 26 with the printing media.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, charge setting 28 as a charge setting list isconfigured of paper sizes which are stored in the trays A41 to E45 ofpaper storage 29 as paper storage trays, color unit prices as colorprint unit price information for color printing on each paper size, andmonochrome unit price as monochrome print price information formonochrome printing on each paper size. Note that charge setting 35 ofcomputer 1 is a copy of charge setting 28.

Hereinafter, the configuration of printer driver 33 which is stored instorage 16 of computer 1 is described by referring to FIG. 1 based onthe block diagram illustrating the configuration of printer driver inthe first embodiment. In FIG. 2, printer driver 33 has print settingchange program 101 and print data creation program 102.

Print setting change program 101 as an enlargement/reduction ratedesignation unit is an enlargement/reduction rate designation program todesignate an enlargement/reduction rate, a document paper size, and aprinting paper size to be used to create print data. Print settingchange program 101 includes a function to provide user P with a GUI forsetting before printing the functions of printer 2 and printer driver 33among the functions of printer driver 33. Print setting change program101 acquires settings from print setting 34 to be reflected on the GUIwhen GUI is displayed and saves the settings on the GUI in print setting34 when the GUI is ended.

Print data creation program 102 includes a function to convert documentdata created in application 32 into print data in a data format capableof being interpreted in printer 2 among the functions of printer driver33. The print data created in this print data creation program 102 iscreated based on the print setting information stored in print setting34. Print data creation program 102 has charge setting acquisitionprogram 103, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, feecalculation program 105, enlargement/reduction mode display program 106,page data creation program 107, and print data transmission program 108.

Charge setting acquisition program. 103 as an information acquisitionunit is an information acquisition program to acquire size informationand unit price information of the printing media to be stored in printer2, and acquires charge setting 28 from printer 2. Enlargement/reductionmode list-up program 104 as an output mode extraction unit is an outputmode extraction program to extract output modes based on theenlargement/reduction rate designated in print setting change program101, and the size information of the printing media acquired in chargesetting acquisition program 103. The enlargement/reduction mode list-upprogram 104 lists up the enlargement/reduction modes from theenlargement/reduction rate stored in print setting 34, the paper size,and charge setting 35.

Fee calculation program 105 as a fee calculation unit is a feecalculation program to calculate a fee for each output mode extracted inthe enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 in such a manner thatthe number of printing media to be used is calculated from the sizeinformation of the printing media acquired in the charge settingacquisition program 103. Then a fee is calculated from the number ofprinting media and unit price information acquired in charge settingacquisition program 103. Then the calculation program 105 calculates afee based on charge setting 35 for the enlargement/reduction mode listedup by enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104. Also, feecalculation program 105 calculates a fee by determining whether or notthe printing data is color or monochrome.

Enlargement/reduction mode display program 106 as an output mode displayunit displays each fee calculated in fee calculation program 105together with the output mode to accept a selection of the output mode.Enlargement/reduction mode display program 106 then displays on display13 each enlargement/reduction mode listed up by enlargement/reductionmode list-up program 104, and the fee of each enlargement/reduction modecalculated in fee calculation program 105 to allow user P to select theenlargement/reduction mode through input unit 11.

Page data creation program 107 as a print data creation unit is a printdata creation program to create print data based on the output modeselected by enlargement/reduction mode display program 106, and createspage data from the document data as print data in a data format capableof being interpreted in printer 2 based on print setting 34 and theenlargement/reduction mode selected by enlargement/reduction modedisplay program 106. Print data transmission program 108 is a program totransmit page data created in page data creation program 107 to printer2 via data transmitter 14.

Effects of the above-described configuration are described. Firstly,printing processing to be performed by the image processing system isbriefly described by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to stepsexpressed by S in the drawings of the flowchart illustrating the flow ofthe printing processing in the first embodiment in FIG. 8.

S101: print setting change program 101 in printer driver 33 of computer1 performs print setting change processing to change print setting 34 instorage 16 based on the print setting information inputted in input unit11 through the operation of user P. Print setting 34 is referred to whenthe document data created by application 32 operating on OS 31 isconverted to print data.

S102: Application 32 accepts the operation of user P for instructing theprinting with input unit 11 and starts the printing.

S103: Print data creation program 102 in printer driver 33 performsprint data creation processing to create the print data.

S104: Data transmitter 14 in computer 1 transmits the created print datato printer 2 and data receiver 21 of printer 2 receives the print data.

S105: Print unit 26 of printer 2 prints the print data received by datareceiver 21. At this time, print unit 26 performs a printing afterfeeding the designated printing medium from paper storage 29 and chargesbased on charge setting 28 stored in storage 27. Then the presentprocessing is terminated.

Next, print setting change processing to be performed by the printsetting change program of the printer driver of the computer isdescribed by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed byS in the drawings of the flowchart illustrating the flow of the printsetting change processing in the first embodiment in FIG. 9. Note thatthis print setting change processing is processing to be performed atS101 of FIG. 8.

S201: Print setting change program 101 acquires print setting 34including a document paper size, a printing paper size, and anenlargement/reduction rate from storage 16.

S202: Print setting change program 101 sets the acquired print settingas setting parameters for each item. For example, print setting changeprogram 101 sets “A4” as a setting parameter of the document paper size,and also sets “A4” as a setting parameter of the printing paper size,and sets “100%” as the setting parameter of the enlargement/reductionrate.

S203: Print setting change program 101 displays GUI in which the settingparameter set at S202 is reflected on display 13.

S204: Print setting change program 101 accepts the operation of changingthe settings of the items, which is made by user P through input unit11, and changes the settings of the items. For example, when the printdata illustrated in FIG. 3 is printed, the document size is “A4” andthus the setting parameter of the document paper size is kept as “A4.”Then, since the enlargement/reduction rate is 141%, print setting changeprogram 101 changes the setting parameter of the printing paper sizefrom “A4” to “A3,” and the enlargement/reduction rate from “100%” to“141%.” S205: Print setting change program 101 displays the terminationof the print setting on the GUI, and determines whether or not an “OK”button is pressed down on the GUI. When it is determined that the buttonis pressed, the processing proceeds to S206. When it is determined thata “Cancel” button other than the “OK” button is pressed down, theprocessing terminates without saving the changed setting in printsetting 34.

S206: Print setting change program 101 terminates the present processingafter saving the changed setting in print setting 34.

Next, print data creation processing to be performed by the print datacreation program of the printer driver of the computer is described byreferring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed by S in thedrawings of the flowchart illustrating the flow of the print datacreation processing in the first embodiment in FIG. 10. Note that thisprint setting change processing is performed at S103 of FIG. 8.

S301: Print data creation program 102 acquires paper size names, widths,and heights of the document paper size and printing paper size, andenlargement/reduction rates R (%) from print setting 34.

S302: Print data creation program 102 determines whether or not theacquired enlargement/reduction rate R is 100%. When it is determinedthat the rate is 100%, enlargement/reduction is not performed, and thusthe processing proceeds to S315 to create page data having thedesignated setting. When it is determined that the rate is not 100%, theprocessing proceeds to S303.

S303: When print data creation program 102 determines that the acquiredenlargement/reduction rate R is not 100%, charge setting acquisitionprogram 103 acquires charge setting 28 from printer 2.

At this time, charge setting acquisition program 103 creates commanddata as a command to acquire the charge setting and transmits thecreated data from data transmitter 14 to the data receiver 21 of theprinter 2. Controller 23 of printer 2 executes the command received bydata receiver 21 and transmits charge setting 28 stored in storage 27from data transmitter 22 to data receiver 15 of computer 1.

S304: Charge setting acquisition program 103 proceeds the processing toS305 when it is determined that charge setting 28 has been successfullyacquired. On the other hand, when charge setting 28 does not exist inprinter 2, controller 23 of printer 2 cannot correctly execute thecommand due to the absence of a transmission target. Thus, chargesetting acquisition program 103 determines that the acquisition ofcharge setting 28 has failed. Thus, the processing proceeds to S315 tocreate page data having the designated setting because informationrequired for the subsequent processing does not exist.

S305: Charge setting acquisition program 103, having successfullyacquired charge setting 28, saves charge setting 28 transmitted to datareceiver 15 in the storage 16, as charge setting 35.

S306: Charge setting acquisition program 103 acquires I which is thenumber of items of charge setting 35. As illustrated in FIG. 7, chargesetting 35 is configured of paper sizes which are stored in the traysA41 to E45 of paper storage 29 as paper storage trays, a color unitprice as a color print unit price when color printing is made on eachpaper size, and a monochrome print unit price when monochrome printingis made on each paper size. Thus, the number I of the items can beacquired from the configuration. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7,the number I of the items is 5.

S307: Charge setting acquisition program 103 checks a spool state of theprint data. Here, the print data is spooled on a spooler in, forexample, an EMF format (Enhanced Metafile Format) before the page datacreation processing is performed in print data creation program 102 ofprinter driver 33. In general, the spooled print data is subsequentlysubjected to the page data creation processing by print data creationprogram 102 of printer driver 33. However, it is assumed here that theprint data is not delivered to page data creation program 107 before theenlargement/reduction mode setting screen is terminated.

S308: Charge setting acquisition program 103 proceeds the processing toS307 until the spool state of the print data is changed from thespooling state to the end of the spooling. When the spool state isended, the processing proceeds to S309.

S309: Charge setting acquisition program 103 detects the end of thespooling and acquires the total number N of pages of the print data fromthe spooled print data.

S310: Next, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 creates anenlargement/reduction mode list. Note that the process of creating theenlargement/reduction mode list is described later.

S311: Next, fee calculation program 105 calculates a fee for each itemof the created enlargement/reduction mode list. Note that the processingof calculating the fee for each item of the enlargement/reduction modelist is described later.

S312: Next, enlargement/reduction mode display program 106 displays anenlargement/reduction mode setting screen.

Here, the enlargement/reduction mode setting screen for printing onepage of A4 enlarged by 141% on A3 paper, like the print data illustratedin FIG. 3, is enlargement/reduction mode setting screen 120 illustratedin FIG. 4. This enlargement/reduction mode setting screen 120 displayslist 121 of four print mode candidates in the center and displayspreview 122 with the selected print mode thereunder. Also,enlargement/reduction mode setting screen 120 displays OK button 123 toinstruct printing by adopting the enlargement/reduction mode selected byuser P, and cancel button 124 to instruct printing with apreviously-designated setting without adopting the enlargement/reductionmode selected by user P.

The list of the candidates includes a print mode ofenlargement/reduction printing in a paper size designated in advance, aprint mode of enlargement/reduction printing in a paper size larger thanthe designated paper size, a print mode using a poster print function toperform enlargement printing by splitting an enlarged image by multiplesheets, and a print mode using an N-up print function to print multiplereduced pages on one sheet collectively. Those modes are listed up atS310.

The print data illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a color image in the upperhalf portion of the paper and a monochrome image in the lower halfportion of the paper without a color image. Thus, when the print data isprinted by splitting it by two A4 pages using the poster print function,the number of printing pages of the color page is one and the number ofprinting pages of the monochrome page is one. Thus, the fee becomes 25yen In Japanese currency of this example) which is the minimum value.Also, when four pages of A4 document are reduced by 70% to be printed onA5 paper like the print data illustrated in FIG. 5,enlargement/reduction mode setting screen 130 illustrated in FIG. 6 isdisplayed. This enlargement/reduction mode setting screen 130 displays alist 131 of four print mode candidates in the center and displayspreview 132 with the selected print mode thereunder.

Also, enlargement/reduction mode setting screen 130 displays OK button133 to instruct printing by adopting the enlargement/reduction modeselected by user P and cancel button 134 to instruct printing with apreviously-designated setting without adopting the enlargement/reductionmode selected by user P. When the print data illustrated in FIG. 5 iscollectively printed on two sheets of A4 paper using the N-up printfunction, the number of color pages to be printed is two and the fee of30 yen is the lowest.

S313: Enlargement/reduction display program 106 accepts an operation ofselecting a desired enlargement/reduction mode by user P on theenlargement/reduction mode setting screen.

S314: Enlargement/reduction mode display program 106 accepts anoperation of terminating the enlargement/reduction mode setting screenby user P on the enlargement/reduction mode setting screen. When OKbutton 123 illustrated in FIG. 4 is pressed down, the selectedenlargement/reduction mode is adopted for the page data creationprocessing. When cancel button 124 is pressed down, the selectedenlargement/reduction mode is not adopted for the page data creationprocessing but instead, the enlargement/reduction mode designated inadvance is adopted for the page data creation processing. At that time,enlargement/reduction mode display program 106 starts supplying theprint data spooled in the spooler with page data creation program 107.

S315: Page data creation program 107 adopts the selected or designatedenlargement/reduction mode to create page data. Then, the processing isterminated.

Hereinafter, the enlargement/reduction mode list creation processingwhich is performed by the enlargement/reduction mode list-up program isdescribed by referring to FIGS. 11 to 14. Note that thisenlargement/reduction mode list creation processing is performed at S310of FIG. 10.

Firstly, enlargement/reduction mode list creation processing is brieflydescribed by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed byS in the drawings of the flowchart illustrating the flow of theenlargement/reduction mode list creation processing in the firstembodiment in FIG. 11.

S401: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 initializes thelist number T which is a variable expressing the number of lists with“0.”

S402: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds the print modein the designated paper size into the enlargement/reduction mode list.

Here, the enlargement/reduction mode list is a group of items having 10items as illustrated in FIG. 20 in one item of the list.

The 10 items include: enlargement/reduction mode ID which isidentification information for identifying an enlargement/reductionmode; a printing paper size indicating a size of the medium onto whichenlarged/reduced page data is to be printed; the number of media to beprinted, which is determined by considering the result of the posterprint or the N-up print; X which indicates the number of pages split inthe lateral direction when the poster print function is used andindicates the number of pages arranged in the lateral direction when theN-up print function is used; Y which indicates the number of pages splitin the longitudinal direction when the poster print function is used andindicates the number of pages arranged in the lateral direction when theN-up print function is used; a printing direction which indicates whichof the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation of theprinting medium is used to arrange the page data; the number of colorpages which indicates the number of pages to be printed in color amongthe total number of pages determined by considering the result of theposter print or the N-up print; the number of monochrome pages whichindicates the number of pages to be printed in monochrome among thetotal number of pages determined by considering the result of the posterprint or the N-up print; a fee indicating a fee to be charged forprinting by this enlargement/reduction mode; and a minimum-fee flagwhich is a flag indicating the least expensive enlargement/reductionmode in the enlargement/reduction mode list, for example.

The enlargement/reduction mode as an output mode is an output mode ofoutputting on a printing medium with a designated size, an output modeof outputting on a printing medium with a size larger than a designatedprinting medium size, and an output mode of outputting an enlarged imageon multiple printing media or an output mode of outputting multiplepages on one printing medium. These modes are identified byenlargement/reduction mode IDs. The enlargement/reduction mode IDs areexpressed by numeral values of 1 to 4, for example, as illustrated inFIG. 19. ID1 is an ID indicating the enlargement/reduction print mode onpaper with a size designated in advance. ID2 is an ID indicating theenlargement/reduction print mode on paper having a size designated inadvance. ID3 is an ID indicating the enlargement/reduction print mode ofprinting data of one page on multiple printing media using the posterprint function. ID4 is an ID indicating the mode of printing theprinting data of multiple pages collectively onto one printing mediumusing the N-up print function.

As for the items to be added at S402, when the print data is the printdata illustrated in FIG. 3, as illustrated in No. 1 in FIG. 2, “1” isset for the enlargement/reduction mode ID, “A3” for the printing papersize, “1” for the number of printing pages, “1” for X, “1” for Y, and“longitudinal” for print direction. Since the number of color pages, thenumber of monochrome pages, the fee and the minimum-fee flag are set atS311, “0” is temporarily set for each of these items. Also, as for theitems to be added at S402, when the print data is the print dataillustrated in FIG. 5, as illustrated No. 1 in FIG. 2, “1” is set forthe enlargement/reduction mode ID, “A5” for the printing paper size, “4”for the number of printing pages, “1” for X, “1” for Y, and“longitudinal” for print direction, and similarly “0” is temporarily setfor each of the number of color pages, the number of monochrome pages,the fee and the minimum-fee flag.

S403: Next, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds “1” intothe listed number.

S404: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 performs aprocessing to add the print mode on paper having a size larger than thedesignated paper size. The processing is described later.

S405: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines whetherenlargement printing is performed or reduction printing is performeddepending on whether the enlargement/reduction rate R is larger orsmaller than 100%. When it is determined that it is an enlargementprinting whose enlargement/reduction rate R is larger than 100%, theprocessing proceeds to S406. When it is determined that it is areduction printing whose enlargement/reduction rate R is smaller than100%, the processing proceeds to S407.

S406: When it is determined that it is the enlargement printing whoseenlargement/reduction rate R is larger than 100%, enlargement/reductionmode list-up program 104 performs processing to add the enlargementprint mode into the enlargement/reduction mode list using the posterprint function. The process of adding the enlargement print mode intothe enlargement/reduction mode list by using the poster print functionis described later.

S407: When it is determined that it is the reduction printing whoseenlargement/reduction rate R is smaller than 100%, enlargement/reductionmode list-up program 104 performs processing of adding the reductionprint mode into the enlargement/reduction mode list using the N-up printfunction. The processing of adding the reduction print mode into theenlargement/reduction mode list by using the N-up print function isdescribed later.

Next, the process of adding the print mode on paper having a size largerthan the designated paper size, which is performed by theenlargement/reduction list-up program, into the enlargement/reductionmode list is described by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to stepsexpressed by S in the figures in the flow illustrating theenlargement/reduction mode list creation processing in the firstembodiment in FIG. 12. The processing of adding the print mode on paperhaving a size larger than the designated paper size into theenlargement/reduction mode list is processing which is performed at S404in FIG. 11. The processing is the process of adding the print mode onthe least expensive paper into the enlargement/reduction mode list amongthe sheets of paper having sizes larger than the designated paper sizeby using charge setting 35. Charge setting 35 is a charge setting listas illustrated in FIG. 7, and enlargement/reduction mode list-up program104 performs the processing sequentially with reference to theinformation of charge setting 35.

S501: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 initializesvariable C expressing the list No. of charge setting 35 with “0.”

S502: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 initializes a loopcounter i with “0.”

S503: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 initializes a colorcharging unit price U with “0.” Here, the color charging unit price U isused for determining the relative levels of the charging unit priceamong the printing media. In the embodiment, the high and lowrelationship among printing media are common to the monochrome chargingunit price and the color charging unit price, and the charging unitprice is determined as high or low using the color charging unit priceas a representative.

S504: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines whetheror not the loop counter i has a value smaller than the total number I ofitems of the list of charge setting 35. When it is determined that theloop counter i has a value smaller than the total number I of items ofthe list of charge setting 35, the processing proceeds to S505. When itis determined that the loop counter i has a value equal to or largerthan the total number I of items of the list of charge setting 35, theprocessing proceeds to S512. It is adopted here that when all the itemsof the list of charge setting 35 are checked, the value of the loopcounter i becomes equal to the value of the total number I of items, andthe processing proceeds to S512 out of the loop. It is adopted that thevalue of the loop counter i being smaller than the total number of itemsmeans that all the items of the list of charge setting 35 are notchecked and the following items are to be checked.

S505: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 compares a heightHo of the designated printing paper size with a height Hi of a papersize stored as an item of the i-th list. When the height Hi is largerthan the height Ho, the processing proceeds to S506. When the height Hiis equal to or smaller than the height Ho, it is determined that thedesignated printing paper size is smaller than the page size stored inthe list and the consideration of a charging unit price is excluded.Then, the processing proceeds to S511.

S506: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, having determinedthat the height Hi is higher than the height Ho, compares a width Wo ofthe designated printing paper size with a width Wi of a paper sizestored as an item of the i-th list. When the width Wi is larger than thewidth Wo, the processing proceeds to S507. When the width Wi is equal toor smaller than the width Wo, it is determined that the designatedprinting paper size is smaller than the page size stored in the list andthe consideration of a charging unit price is excluded. Then, theprocessing proceeds to S511.

S507: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, having determinedthat the width Wi is larger than the width Wo, determines whether or nota color charging unit price U is “0.” When it is determined that thecolor charging unit price U is “0,” this means that the page size storedin the list is the paper size having an original large size, and theprocessing proceeds to S509 while skipping a comparison on colorcharging unit price in S508. When it is determined that the colorcharging unit price U is not “0,” this means that a large paper size isused as a print target paper size at least once, and the processingproceeds to S508.

S508: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, having determinedthat the color charging unit price U is not “0,” compares the colorcharging unit price U with a color unit price of the list of chargesetting 35. When it is determined that the color unit price Ui is equalto or smaller than the color charging unit price U, this means that thepaper size is larger than the designated paper size and the color unitprice Ui of charge setting 35 is already equal to or smaller than thecolor charging unit price. Then, the processing proceeds to S509. On theother hand, when it is determined that the color unit price Ui is largerthan the color charging unit price U, this means that the paper size islarger than the designated paper size but the color charging unit priceU which has been selected is cheaper than the color unit price Ui. Then,the processing proceeds to S511.

S509: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, having determinedthat the color unit price Ui is equal to or smaller than the colorcharging unit price U, substitutes the i-th color unit price Ui ofcharge setting 35 for the color charging unit price U.

S510: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 substitutes theloop counter i for variable C indicating the list No. of charge setting35. Accordingly, the list No. of charge setting 35 which is a selectiontarget is stored as candidate information.

S511: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds “1” to theloop counter i, which is then updated, in order to process the nextitems of charge setting 35. Then, the processing proceeds to S504.

S512: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, having determinedthat the loop counter i has a value equal to or larger than the totalnumber I of items of the list of charge setting 35 at S504, determineswhether or not the color charging unit price U is “0.” When it isdetermined that the color charging unit price U is “0,” this means thatthe charge setting 35 does not has a paper size larger than thedesignated paper size. Thus, the processing is terminated without beingadded into the enlargement/reduction mode list. When it is determinedthat the color charging unit price U is not “0,” this means that thecharge setting 35 had a paper size larger than the designated papersize. Thus, the processing proceeds to S513.

S513: Enlargement/reduction list-up program 104 adds the list No. ofcharge setting 35, which is a selection target, into theenlargement/reduction mode list by utilizing the stored candidateinformation.

At this time, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 can see thelist No. of charge setting 35 with the value stored in variable Cindicating the list No. of charge setting 35.

For example, when the print data (printing paper size A3) illustrated inFIG. 3 is printed, if the selection is made from the charge setting listillustrated in FIG. 7, “2” is stored in variable C, and a candidate tobe printed on the paper size A3+ of No. 3 by referring the indexstarting from 0 is added into the enlargement/reduction mode list. Atthis time, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 sets “2” forenlargement/reduction mode ID of the enlargement/reduction mode list,“A3+” for the printing paper size, “1” for the number of printing pages,“1” for X, “1” for Y, and “longitudinal” for a paper orientation, andtemporarily sets and adds a provisional value of “0” for the number ofcolor pages, the number of monochrome pages, the fee, and theminimum-fee flag.

S514: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds “1” into thenumber T of the lists. Then, the processing is terminated.

Next, the process of adding the enlargement print mode using the posterprint function, which is performed by the enlargement/reduction list-upprogram, into the enlargement/reduction mode list is described byreferring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed by S in thefigures in the flow of the enlargement/reduction mode list creationprocessing in the first embodiment in FIG. 13. The process of adding theenlargement print mode using the poster print function into theenlargement/reduction mode list is performed at S406 in FIG. 11.

The processing is processing of adding the enlargement print mode usingthe poster print function to print multiple pages on paper having a sizesmaller than the designated paper size into the enlargement/reductionmode list by using charge setting 35. Charge setting 35 is a chargesetting list as illustrated in FIG. 7, and enlargement/reduction modelist-up program 104 performs the processing sequentially referring tothe information of charge setting 35.

S601: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 initializes a loopcounter i with “0.”

S602: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines whetheror not the loop counter i has a value smaller than the total number I ofthe items of the list of charge setting 35. When it is determined thatthe loop counter i has a value smaller than the total number I of itemsof the list of charge setting 35, it determines that all the items arenot checked, and the processing proceeds to S603. When it is determinedthat the loop counter i has a value equal to or larger than the totalnumber I of items of the list of charge setting 35, it determines thatall the items have been checked, and thus the processing is terminated.

S603: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Xp of printing paper having a printing paper size of the i-th listof charge setting 35 are required to exceed a width of a printing papersize designated in advance when the pages Xp are arranged in the lateraldirection with their longitudinal directions set in the portraitorientation. Here, the number of pages Xp arranged in the lateraldirection can be obtained by dividing a width Wo of the printing papersize designated in advance by a width Wi of the printing paper size ofthe i-th list of charge setting 35. Note that the number of paper sheetsXp is an integer which is obtained by rounding up after the decimalpoint.

S604: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Yp of printing paper having the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35 are required to exceed a height of theprinting paper size designated in advance when the pages Yp are arrangedin the longitudinal direction with their longitudinal directions set inthe portrait orientation. Here, the number of pages Yp arranged in thelongitudinal direction can be obtained by dividing a height Ho of theprinting paper size designated in advance by a height Hi of the printingpaper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35. Note that the numberof paper sheets Yp is an integer which is obtained by rounding up afterthe decimal point.

S605: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Xq of printing paper having the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35 are required to exceed the width of theprinting paper size designated in advance when the pages Xq are arrangedin the lateral direction with their longitudinal directions set in thelandscape orientation. Here, the number of pages Xq arranged in thelateral direction can be obtained by dividing the width Wo of theprinting paper size designated in advance by the height Hi of theprinting paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35. Note that thenumber of pages Xq is an integer which is obtained by rounding up afterthe decimal point.

S606: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Yq of printing paper having the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35 are required to exceed the width of theprinting paper size designated in advance when the pages Xq are arrangedin the longitudinal direction with their longitudinal directions set inthe landscape orientation. Here, the number of pages Yq arranged in thelongitudinal direction can be obtained by dividing the height Ho of theprinting paper size designated in advance by the width Wi of theprinting paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35. Note that thenumber of paper sheets Yq is an integer which is obtained by rounding upafter the decimal point.

S607: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines whetheror not a product of the number of pages Xp calculated at S603 and thenumber of pages Yp calculated at S604 is larger than 1 in order todetermine whether or not the printing paper size where the pages havingthe printing paper size of the i-th lit of charge setting 35 arearranged in the lateral and longitudinal directions with theirlongitudinal directions set in the portrait orientation is large enoughto cover the printing paper size designated in advance. When it isdetermined that the product of the number of pages Xp and the number ofpages Yp is larger than 1, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program104 determines that the printing paper size designated in advance is notcovered, and proceeds the processing to S608. When it is determined thatthe product of the number of pages Xp and the number of pages Yp isequal to or smaller than 1, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program104 determines that the printing paper size designated in advance iscovered, and proceeds the processing to S613 because it does not have tobe split and printed on multiple pages by using the poster printfunction and there is no need to be added into the enlargement/reductionmode list.

S608: When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xpand the number of pages Yp is larger than 1, enlargement/reduction modelist-up program 104 determines whether or not a product of the number ofpages Xq calculated at S605 and the number of pages Yq calculated atS606 is larger than 1 in order to determine whether or not the printingpaper size where the pages having the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35 are arranged in the lateral and longitudinaldirections with their longitudinal directions set in the landscapeorientation is large enough to cover the printing paper size designatedin advance. When it is determined that the product of the number ofpages Xq and the number of pages Yq is larger than 1,enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines that theprinting paper size designated in advance is not covered, and proceedsthe processing to S609. When it is determined that the product of thenumber of pages Xq and the number of pages Yq is equal to or smallerthan 1, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines thatthe printing paper size designated in advance is covered, and proceedsthe processing to S613 because it does not have to be split and printedon multiple pages by using the poster print function and there is noneed to be added into the enlargement/reduction mode list.

S609: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, having determinedthat the product of the number of pages Xq and the number of pages Yq islarger than 1, compares the product of the number of pages Xp and thenumber of pages Yp with the product of the number of pages Xq and thenumber of pages Yq. This is for determining which of the portraitorientation and the landscape orientation the longitudinal direction ofthe printing page having the printing paper size of the i-th list ofcharge setting 35 should be set in to achieve more effective printing.Since a smaller product requires a smaller number of pages to be used,this is determined as effective.

When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xp and thenumber of pages Yp is equal to or smaller than the product of the numberof pages Xq and the number of pages Yq, enlargement/reduction modelist-up program 104 proceeds the proceeding to S610. When it isdetermined that the product of the number of pages Xp and the number ofpages Yp is equal to or larger than the product of the number of pagesXq and the number of pages Yq, it proceeds the processing to S611.

S610: When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xpand the number of pages Yp is equal to or smaller than the product ofthe number of pages Xq and the number of pages Yq, enlargement/reductionmode list-up program 104 adds a pattern in which the printing paperhaving the printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35 isused with the longitudinal direction set in the portrait orientationinto the enlargement/reduction mode list and proceeds to the processingat S612. At this time, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104sets and adds “3” as enlargement/reduction mode ID of theenlargement/reduction mode list, the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35″ as the printing paper size, “a value obtainedby multiplying a product of the number N of pages of the originaldocument and the number of pages Xp by the number of pages Yp” as thenumber of printing pages, “the number of pages Xp” as X, “the number ofpages Yp” as Y, and “portrait” as a paper orientation, and temporarilysets a provisional value of “0” for the number of color pages, thenumber of monochrome pages, the fee, and the minimum-fee flag.

S611: When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xpand the number of pages Yp is larger than the product of the number ofpages Xq and the number of pages Yq, enlargement/reduction mode list-upprogram 104 adds a pattern in which the printing paper having theprinting paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35 is used withthe longitudinal direction set in the landscape orientation into theenlargement/reduction mode list and proceeds the processing to S612. Atthis time, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 sets and adds“3” as enlargement/reduction mode ID of the enlargement/reduction modelist, the printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35″ asthe printing paper size, “a value obtained by multiplying a product ofthe number N of pages of the original document and the number of pagesXq by the number of pages Yq” as the number of printing pages, “thenumber of pages Xq” as X, “the number of pages Yq” as Y, and “landscape”as a paper orientation, and temporarily sets a provisional value of “0”for the number of color pages, the number of monochrome pages, the fee,and the minimum-fee flag.

S612: Next, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds “1” tothe number T of the lists.

S613: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds “1” to theloop counter i, which is then updated, in order to process the nextitems of charge setting 35. Then, the processing proceeds to S602.

Next, the processing of adding the reduction print mode using the N-upprint function, which is performed by the enlargement/reduction list-upprogram, into the enlargement/reduction mode list is described byreferring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed by S in thefigures in the flow of the enlargement/reduction mode list creationprocessing in the first embodiment in FIG. 14. The process of adding thereduction print mode using the N-up print function into theenlargement/reduction mode list is processing performed at S407 in FIG.11. The processing is processing of adding the reduction print modeusing the N-up print function to print multiple pages on paper having asize larger than the designated size into the enlargement/reduction modelist by using charge setting 35. Charge setting 35 is a charge settinglist as illustrated in FIG. 7, and enlargement/reduction mode list-upprogram 104 performs processing sequentially referring to theinformation of charge setting 35.

S701: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 initializes a loopcounter i with “0.”

S702: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines whetheror not the loop counter i has a value smaller than the total number I ofitems of the list of charge setting 35. When it is determined that theloop counter i has a value smaller than the total number I of items ofthe list of charge setting 35, it determines that all the items are notchecked, and the processing proceeds to S703. When it is determined thatthe loop counter i has a value equal to or larger than the total numberI of items of the list of charge setting 35, it determines that all theitems have been checked, and thus the processing is terminated.

S703: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Xp of the printing paper having the printing paper size designatedin advance can be arranged in the lateral direction in the printingpaper having a printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting35, whose longitudinal direction is set in the landscape orientation,within a range without exceeding the width in the lateral direction.Here, the number of pages Xp arranged in the lateral direction can beobtained by dividing a width Wi of the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35 by a width Wo of the printing paper sizedesignated in advance. Note that the number of paper sheets Xp is aninteger which is obtained by rounding up after the decimal point.

S704: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Yp of the printing paper having the printing paper size designatedin advance can be arranged in the longitudinal direction in the printingpaper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35 is used in portraitorientation, whose longitudinal direction is set in the portraitorientation, within a range not exceeding the height in the longitudinaldirection. Here, the number of pages Yp arranged in the longitudinaldirection can be obtained by dividing a height Hi of the printing papersize of the i-th list of charge setting 35 by a height Ho of theprinting paper size designated in advance. Note that the number of papersheets Yp is an integer which is obtained by rounding up after thedecimal point.

S705: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Xq of the printing paper having the printing paper size designatedin advance can be arranged in the lateral direction in the printingpaper having a printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting35, whose longitudinal direction is set in the landscape orientation,within a range not exceeding the width in the lateral direction. Here,the number of pages Xq arranged in the lateral direction can be obtainedby dividing the height i of the printing paper size of the i-th list ofcharge setting 35 by the width Wo of the printing paper size designatedin advance. Note that the number of pages Xq is an integer which isobtained by rounding up after the decimal point.

S706: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 calculates how manypages Yq of the printing paper having the printing paper size designatedin advance can be arranged in the longitudinal direction in the printingpaper having a printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting35, whose longitudinal direction is set in the landscape orientation,within a range not exceeding the height in the longitudinal direction.Here, the number of pages Yq arranged in the lateral direction can beobtained by dividing the width Wi of the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35 by the height Ho of the printing paper sizedesignated in advance. Note that the number of paper sheets Yq is aninteger which is obtained by rounding up after the decimal point.

S707: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines whetheror not a product of the number of pages Xp calculated at S703 and thenumber of pages Yp calculated at S704 is larger than 1 in order todetermine whether or not the printing paper having the printing papersize of the i-th list of charge setting 35 with the longitudinaldirection set in the portrait orientation has a size covering theprinting paper size designated in advance. When it is determined thatthe product of the number of pages Xp and the number of pages Yp islarger than 1, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determinesthat the N-up print is possible, and proceeds the proceeding to S709.When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xp and thenumber of pages Yp is equal to or smaller than 1, it determines that theN-up print is impossible, and proceeds the processing to S708.

S708: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104, having determinedthat the N-up print is impossible in the printing page having theprinting paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35 with thelongitudinal direction set in the portrait orientation, determineswhether or not a product of the number of pages Xq calculated at S705and the number of pages Yq calculated at S706 is larger than 1 in orderto determine whether or not the printing paper having the printing papersize of the i-th list of charge setting 35 with the longitudinaldirection set in the landscape orientation has a size covering theprinting paper size designated in advance.

When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xq and thenumber of pages Yq is larger than 1, enlargement/reduction mode list-upprogram 104 determines that the N-up print is possible and proceeds theprocessing to S709. When it is determined that the product of the numberof pages Xq and the number of pages Yq is equal to or smaller than 1,enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 determines that the N-upprint is impossible, and proceeds the processing to S713 becauseprinting on the printing paper having the printing paper size of thei-th list of charge setting 35 using the N-up print function isimpossible and there is no need to be added into theenlargement/reduction mode list.

S709: At S707 or S708, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104,having determined that the N-up print is possible, compares a product ofthe number of pages Xp and the number of pages Yp with the product ofthe number of pages Xq and the number of pages Yq.

This is for determining which of the portrait orientation and thelandscape orientation the longitudinal direction of the printing pagehaving the printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35should be set in order to achieve more effective printing. Since alarger product indicates that a larger number of pages can be printedcollectively on one printing medium, this is determined as effective.When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xp and thenumber of pages Yp is larger than the product of the number of pages Xqand the number of pages Yq, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program104 proceeds the proceeding to S710. When it is determined that theproduct of the number of pages Xp and the number of pages Yp is equal toor smaller than the product of the number of pages Xq and the number ofpages Yq, it proceeds the processing to S711.

S710: When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xpand the number of pages Yp is equal to or smaller than the product ofthe number of pages Xq and the number of pages Yq, enlargement/reductionmode list-up program 104 adds a pattern in which the printing paperhaving the printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35 isused with the longitudinal direction set in the portrait orientationinto the enlargement/reduction mode list and proceeds the processing atS712. At this time, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 setsand adds “4” as enlargement/reduction mode ID of theenlargement/reduction mode list, the printing paper size of the i-thlist of charge setting 35″ as the printing paper size, “a value obtainedby dividing a quotient of the number N of pages of the original documentby the number of pages Xp by the number of pages Yp” as the number ofprinting pages, “the number of pages Xp” as X, “the number of pages Yp”as Y, and “portrait” as a paper orientation, and temporarily sets aprovisional value of “0” for the number of color pages, the number ofmonochrome pages, the fee, and the minimum-fee flag.

S711: When it is determined that the product of the number of pages Xpand the number of pages Yp is larger than the product of the number ofpages Xq and the number of pages Yq, enlargement/reduction mode list-upprogram 104 adds a pattern in which the printing paper having theprinting paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35 is used withthe longitudinal direction set in the landscape orientation into theenlargement/reduction mode list and proceeds the processing to S712. Atthis time, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 sets and adds“4” as enlargement/reduction mode ID of the enlargement/reduction modelist, the printing paper size of the i-th list of charge setting 35″ asthe printing paper size, “a value obtained by dividing a quotient of thenumber N of pages of the original document by the number of pages Xq bythe number of pages Yq” as the number of printing pages, “the number ofpages Xq” as X, “the number of pages Yq” as Y, and “landscape” as apaper orientation, and temporarily sets a provisional value of “0” forthe number of color pages, the number of monochrome pages, the fee, andthe minimum-fee flag.

S712: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds “1” into thenumber of lists T.

S713: Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 adds “1” to theloop counter i, which is then updated, in order to process the nextitems of charge setting 35. Then, the processing proceeds to S702.

Next, fee calculation processing to be performed by the fee calculationprogram is briefly described by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according tosteps expressed by S in the drawings of the flowchart illustrating theflow of the fee calculation processing in the first embodiment in FIG.15. Note that this fee calculation processing is processing to beperformed at S311 of FIG. 10. The processing is processing to calculatea fee on each item of the enlargement/reduction mode list listed up byenlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104. Fee calculation program105 performs processing sequentially referring to the information of theenlargement/reduction list.

S801: Fee calculation program 105 initializes a loop counter r with “0.”

S802: Fee calculation program 105 determines that a fee is notcalculated for all the items of the enlargement/reduction mode list whenthe loop counter r compares the number T of items of theenlargement/reduction mode list which are listed up byenlargement/reduction mode list-up program 104 with the loop counter rand when it is determined that a value of the loop counter r is smallerthan the number T of items of the enlargement/reduction mode list. Theprocessing then proceeds to S803. When it is determined that the valueof the loop counter r is equal to or larger than the number T of itemsof the enlargement/reduction mode list, it determines that a fee iscalculated for all the items of the enlargement/reduction mode list andproceeds the processing to S860.

S803: Fee calculation program 105 initializes the page counter i with“0” and initializes variable Pc storing the number of color pages andvariable Pm storing the number of monochrome pages Pc for the items ofthe enlargement/reduction mode list for which the fee is calculated with“0.”

S804: Fee calculation program 105 determines a value ofenlargement/reduction mode ID of the enlargement/reduction mode to be acalculation target. When the value of the enlargement/reduction mode IDis “1” or “2,” the processing at S810 is executed. When the value of theenlargement/reduction mode ID is “3,” the processing at S820 isexecuted. When the value of the enlargement/reduction mode ID is “4,”the processing at S840 is executed. Fee calculation program 105, havingexecuted the processing at S810, S820, and S840, proceeds the processingto S802 and forms a loop. Note that the processing at S810, S820, andS840 is described later in detail.

S860: Fee calculation program 105 leaves the lower fee and deletes thehigher fee from the enlargement/reduction mode list when theenlargement/reduction mode IDs are the same and the numbers of pages arethe same. This is because a more effective option for eachenlargement/reduction mode is provided for user P, and the option with alower efficiency is deleted from the enlargement/reduction mode list.

S861: Fee calculation program 105 extracts a lowest fee from the itemsin the enlargement/reduction mode list and changes the minimum-fee flagof the item of the enlargement/reduction mode list to “1”. Then, theprocessing is terminated. In this manner, fee calculation program 105completes the enlargement/reduction mode list and enlargement/reductiondisplay program 106 displays the enlargement/reduction mode settingscreen on display 13 based on the completed enlargement/reduction modelist.

Next, fee calculation processing to be performed by the fee calculationprogram when the enlargement/reduction mode ID is “1” or “2” isdescribed by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed byS in the drawings of the flowchart illustrating the flow of the feecalculation processing in the first embodiment in FIG. 16. Note thatthis fee calculation processing is performed at S810 of FIG. 15.

S811: Fee calculation program 105 compares the page counter i with thetotal number N of pages. When it is determined that the page counter iis smaller than the total number N of pages, this means that all thepages are not processed. Then, the processing proceeds to S812. When itis determined that the page counter i is equal to or larger than thetotal number N of pages, this means that all the pages are processed.Then, the processing proceeds to S816.

S812: Fee calculation program 105 determines whether or not the data ofthe i-th page is a color page. When it is determined that the data is acolor page, the processing proceeds to S813. When it is determined thatit is not a color page, i.e., a monochrome page, the processing proceedsto S814.

Here, the determination of color page is performed using a RGB (RedGreen Blue) value which is color information designated for each data inthe page data. Color information whose values of a R element, a Gelement, and a B element of the RGB value are equal to one another isdealt as monochrome information. Color information in which any of a Relement, a G element, and a B element of the RGB value has a differentvalue and is dealt with as color information. Fee calculation program105 performs this determination processing for all the data in the page,and determines that a page having the color information is a color pageand a page having only the monochrome information is a monochrome page.

S813: Fee calculation program 105 having been determined as the colorpage at S812 adds “1” to variable Pc storing the number of color pagesand proceeds the processing to S815.

S814: On the other hand, fee calculation program 105 having beendetermined as the monochrome page at S812 adds “1” to variable Pmstoring the number of monochrome pages and proceeds the processing toS815.

S815: Fee calculation program 105 adds “1” to the page counter i, andproceeds the processing to S811 to perform the processing on the nextpage.

S816: Fee calculation program 105, having determined that the pagecounter i is equal to or larger than the total number N of pages andhaving determined that all the pages are processed at S811, substitutesthe value of variable Pc for the number of color pages of the r-th itemof the enlargement/reduction mode list and substitutes the value ofvariable Pm for the number of monochrome pages. Furthermore, feecalculation program 105 adds the product of variable Pc and the colorunit price to the product of variable Pm and the monochrome unit price,and substitutes the added value for fee Pr. Note that r is a loopcounter. Here, the color unit price and the monochrome unit price areacquired by searching the charge setting list illustrated in FIG. 7 ofcharge setting 35 based on the determined printing paper size.

S817: Fee calculation program 105 adds “1” to the loop counter r inorder to process the next items of enlargement/reduction mode list.Then, the processing is terminated.

Next, fee calculation processing to be performed by the fee calculationprogram when the enlargement/reduction mode ID is “3” is described byreferring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed by S in thedrawings of the flowchart illustrating the flow of the fee calculationprocessing in the first embodiment in FIG. 17. Note that this feecalculation processing is performed at S820 of FIG. 15.

S821: Fee calculation program 105 calculates the number 13 of pages inwhich one page is split in such a manner that Xr, which is X of the r-thitem of the enlargement/reduction mode list, is multiplied by Yr, whichis Y of the r-th item of the enlargement/reduction mode list.

S822: Fee calculation program 105 compares the page counter i with thetotal number N of pages. When it is determined that the page counter iis smaller than the total number N of pages, this means that all thepages are not processed. Then, the processing proceeds to S823. When itis determined that the page counter i is equal to or larger than thetotal number N of pages, this means that all the pages are processed.Then, the processing proceeds to S830.

S823: Fee calculation program 105 initializes counter i3 forsequentially processing page number I₃ in which one page is split to“0.”

S824: Fee calculation program 105 compares the page counter i₃ with thenumber I₃ of split pages. When it is determined that the page counter i₃is smaller than the number I₃ of split pages, this means that all thepages to be split for one document page are not processed. Then, theprocessing proceeds to S825. When it is determined that the page counteri₃ is equal to or larger than the number I₃ of split pages, this meansthat all the pages to be split for one document page are processed.Then, the processing proceeds to S829.

S825: Fee calculation program 105 determines whether or not the data ofthe i-th page is a color page. When it is determine that the data is acolor page, the processing proceeds to S826. When it is determined thatit is not a color page, i.e., a monochrome page, the processing proceedsto S827.

Here, process of determining whether it is the color page or themonochrome page is the same processing as that at S812 of FIG. 16.However, when the poster print function is used, the page is split.Accordingly, the determination is entirely performed on all the splitregions. Fee calculation program 105 places the page data in the centerof the size in which the paper having the r-th printing paper size ofthe enlargement/reduction mode list is arranged with X pages in thelateral direction and Y pages in the longitudinal direction, and checkswhether the drawing data in the region of each paper size is colorinformation or monochrome information.

S826: Fee calculation program 105, having been determined as the colorpage at S825, adds “1” to variable Pc storing the number of color pagesand proceeds the processing to S828.

S827: On the other hand, fee calculation program 105, having beendetermined as the monochrome page at S825, adds “1” to variable Pmstoring the number of monochrome pages and proceeds the processing toS828.

S828: Fee calculation program 105 adds “1” to the page counter i₃, andproceeds the processing to S824 to perform the processing on the nextpage in the poster print function.

S829: Fee calculation program 105, having determined that counter i₃ hasa value equal to or larger than the number I₃ of split pages at S824,adds “1” to page counter i and proceeds the processing to S822 toprocess the next page.

S830: Fee calculation program 105, having determined that the pagecounter i is equal to or larger than the total number N of pages andhaving determined that all the pages are processed at S822, substitutesthe value of variable Pc for the number of color pages of the r-th itemof the enlargement/reduction mode list and substitutes the value ofvariable Pm for the number of monochrome pages. Furthermore, feecalculation program 105 adds the product of variable Pc and the colorunit price to the product of variable Pm and the monochrome unit priceand substitutes the added value for the fee Pr. Note that r is a loopcounter. Here, the color unit price and the monochrome unit price areacquired by searching the charge setting list illustrated in FIG. 7 ofcharge setting 35 based on the determined printing paper size.

S831: Fee calculation program 105 adds “1” to the loop counter r inorder to process the next items of enlargement/reduction mode list.Then, the processing is terminated.

Next, fee calculation processing to be performed by the fee calculationprogram when the enlargement/reduction mode ID is “4” is described byreferring to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to steps expressed by S in thedrawings of the flowchart illustrating the flow of the fee calculationprocessing in the first embodiment in FIG. 18. This fee calculationprocessing is performed at S840 of FIG. 15.

S841: Fee calculation program 105 calculates the number I₄ of pages tobe compiled on one page in such a manner that Xr, which is X of the r-thitem of the enlargement/reduction mode list, is multiplied by Yr, whichis Y of the r-th item of the enlargement/reduction mode list.

S842: Fee calculation program 105 compares the page counter i with thetotal number N of pages. When it is determined that the page counter iis smaller than the total number N of pages, this means that all thepages are not processed. Then, the processing proceeds to S843. When itis determined that the page counter i is equal to or larger than thetotal number N of pages, this means that all the pages are processed.Then, the processing proceeds to S853.

S843: Fee calculation program 105 initializes counter i₄ forsequentially processing number I₄ of pages to be put together on onepage and flag F indicating the color page to “0.”

S844: Fee calculation program 105 compares the page counter i₄ with thenumber I₄ of compiled pages. When it is determined that the page counteri₄ is smaller than the number I₄ of compiled pages, this means that allthe pages to be compiled for the printing paper size are not processedyet. Then, the processing proceeds to S845. When it is determined thatthe page counter i₄ is equal to or larger than the number I₄ of compiledpages, this means that all the pages to be compiled for the printingpaper size are processed. Then, the processing proceeds to S849.

S845: Fee calculation program 105 determines whether or not the data ofthe i-th page is a color page. When it is determine that the data is acolor page, the processing proceeds to S846. When it is determined thatit is not a color page, i.e., a monochrome page, the processing proceedsto S847.

Here, the process of determining whether it is the color page or themonochrome page is the same processing as that at S812 of FIG. 16.However, when the N-up function is used, the pages are compiled.Accordingly, the determination is entirely performed on all the pages tobe compiled. Accordingly, fee calculation program 105 checks whethereach logic page to be compiled is color or monochrome.

S846: Fee calculation program 105, having determined that the page is acolor page at S845, substitutes “1” for flag F.

S847: Fee calculation program 105 adds “1” to counter i₄.

S848: Fee calculation program 105 compares the value in which pagecounter i is added to counter i₄ with the value of the total number N ofpages. When it is determined that the value in which page counter i isadded to counter i₄ is smaller than the total number N of pages, thismeans that an unprocessed page exists. Thus, the processing proceeds toS844. When it is determined that the value in which counter i is addedto counter i₄ is equal to or larger than the total number N of pages,this means that all the pages are processed. Thus, the processingproceeds to S849.

S849: Fee calculation program 105 determines whether or not flag Findicating that the entire page in which the multiple pages are compiledis a color page is “1.” When it is determined that flag F is “1,” theprocessing proceeds to S850, while when it is determined that flag F isno “1,” the processing proceeds to S851.

S850: Fee calculation program 105, having determined that flag F is “1,”i.e., the entire page in which multiple pages are compiled is a colorpage, adds “1” to variable Pc storing the number of color pages andproceeds the processing to S852.

S851: On the other hand, fee calculation program 105, having determinedin S849 that flag F is not “1,” i.e., the entire page in which multiplepages are compiled is a monochrome page, adds “1” to variable Pm storingthe number of monochrome pages and proceeds the processing to S852.

S852: Fee calculation program 105 adds counter I₄ to the page counter i,and proceeds the processing to S842.

S853: Fee calculation program 105, having determined that the pagecounter i is equal to or larger than the total number N of pages andhaving determined that all the pages are processed at S842, substitutesthe value of variable Pc for the number of color pages of the r-th itemof the enlargement/reduction mode list and substitutes the value ofvariable Pm for the number of monochrome pages. Furthermore, feecalculation program 105 adds the product of variable Pc and the colorunit price to the product of variable Pm and the monochrome unit priceand substitutes the value for the fee Pr. Note that r is a loop counter.Here, the color unit price and the monochrome unit price are acquired bysearching the charge setting list illustrated in FIG. 7 of chargesetting 35 based on the determined printing paper size.

S854: Fee calculation program 105 adds “1” to the loop counter r inorder to process the next items of the enlargement/reduction mode list.Then, the processing is terminated. As described above, in the firstembodiment, when enlargement or reduction printing is designated,multiple different print modes for obtaining a print result with thesame enlargement/reduction rate are displayed on a display together witha fee thereof to inform a user so that the user can select a print mode.Accordingly, such effect can be obtained that the user can select anoptimum enlargement/reduction print mode by considering the fee amongthe provided multiple print modes.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an imageformation apparatus in a second embodiment. Copier (copy machine) 200,as an image formation apparatus including an image processor configuredto create print data and an image formation unit configured to chargefor printing the print data, includes input unit 201, controller 202,display 203, image scanner 204, printer 205, paper storage 206, andstorage 212.

Controller 202 includes, for example, a CPU and the like, and controlsinput unit 201, display 203, image scanner 204, and printer 205 based onvarious kinds of programs (software) stored in storage 212 to control anentire operation of copier 200. Input unit 201 is an operation buttondisposed on an operation panel, for example, to receive an inputoperation made by user P. Display 203 includes, for example, an LCD anda touch panel and is caused by control of controller 202 to display textor images on the screen.

Image scanner 204 is configured of an image read mechanism to read imagedepicted on the document as image data under the control of controller202. Printer 205 is configured of a print function to print the imagedata of the document which is read by image scanner 204 onto printingpaper. Paper storage 206 includes, for example, tray A207, tray B208,tray C209, tray D210, and tray E211, so as to be capable of respectivelystoring different sizes or kinds of printing media in the trays andsupplying printer 205 with the printing media.

Storage 212 is configured of a memory or an HD, such as a RAM, forexample, and a ROM which stores firmware as various programs forcontrolling copy machine 200, character font data, or the like. Storage212 includes copy setting 213 and charge setting 214. Also, storage 212has setting change program 215, charge setting acquisition program. 216,enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 217, fee calculation program218, enlargement/reduction mode display program 219, and page datacreation program 220. As illustrated in FIG. 7, charge setting 214 as acharge setting list is configured of paper sizes which are stored in thetrays A41 to E45 of paper storage 206 as paper storage trays, a colorunit price as a color print unit price for color printing made on eachpaper size, and a monochrome print unit price for monochrome printingmade on each paper size.

Setting change program 215 as an enlargement/reduction rate designationunit is an enlargement/reduction rate designation program to designatean enlargement/reduction rate to be used to create print data, adocument paper size, and a printing paper size, and includes a functionto provide user P with a GUI for setting the functions of copier 200before the printing, such as the number of copies, the document papersize, the printing paper size, and the like in addition to theenlargement/reduction rate. This setting change program 215 acquires thesettings from copy setting 213 to be reflected on the GUI when the GUIis displayed and stores the settings on the GUI in copy setting 213 whenthe GUI is ended. Copy setting 213 as print setting information is forstoring setting values changed by setting change program 215, forexample, an enlargement/reduction rate, which is an enlargement rate ora reduction rate, the number of copies, a document paper size, and aprinting paper size as setting values.

Charging price setting acquisition program 216 as an informationacquisition unit is an information acquisition program to acquire sizeinformation and unit price information of printing media to be stored inpaper storage 206, and acquires charge setting 214.Enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 217 as an output modeextraction unit is an output mode extraction program to extract: outputmodes based on the enlargement/reduction rate designated in printsetting changing program 215, the size information of the printing mediaacquired in charge setting acquisition program 216, and lists up theenlargement/reduction modes from the enlargement/reduction rate storedin copy setting 213, the paper size, and charge setting 214.

Fee calculation program 218 as a fee calculation unit is a feecalculation program to calculate a fee for each output mode extracted inthe enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 217 in such a manner thatthe number of printing media to be used is calculated from the sizeinformation of the printing media acquired in the charge settingacquisition program 216 and then a fee is calculated from the number ofprinting media and unit price information acquired in charge settingacquisition program 216, and calculates a fee based on charge setting214 for the enlargement/reduction mode listed up byenlargement/reduction mode list-up program 217.

Enlargement/reduction mode display program 219, as an output modedisplay, displays each fee calculated in fee calculation program 218together with the output mode to accept a selection of the output mode,and displays on display 203 each enlargement/reduction mode listed up byenlargement/reduction mode list-up program 217, and the fee of eachenlargement/reduction mode calculated in fee calculation program 218 toprompt user P to select the enlargement/reduction mode through inputunit 201.

Page data creation program 220 as a print data creation unit is a printdata creation program to create print data based on the output modeselected by enlargement/reduction mode display program 219, and createspage data from the image data of the document read by image scanner 204as print data based on copy setting 213 and the enlargement/reductionmode selected by enlargement/reduction mode display program 219.

Effects of the above-described configuration are described.

Firstly, print (copy) processing to be performed by the copier as theimage processing system is briefly described by referring to FIG. 23according to steps expressed by S in the drawing of the flowchartillustrating the flow of the printing processing in the secondembodiment in FIG. 24.

S1101: User P places a target document to be copied on image scanner 204of copier 200.

Setting change program 215 in copier 200 displays currently-set contentson display 203 and performs print setting change processing to changecopy setting 213 in storage 212 based on the print setting informationinputted in input unit 201 through the operation of user P. Copy setting213 is referred when the image data of the document is converted intoprint data.

S1102: Controller 202 accepts the operation of user P instructing copythrough input unit 201 and starts copying.

S1103: Controller 202 performs page image scan processing to read animage depicted on the placed document by image scanner 204.

S1104: Controller 202 performs print data creation processing of thepage image read by image scanner 204 to process and print the pageimage.

S1105: Printer 205 prints the created print data of the page image. Atthis time, print unit 205 performs printing after feeding the designatedprinting medium from paper storage 206 and the charges based on chargesetting 214 stored in storage 212, and then the processing isterminated.

Next, print setting change processing to be performed by the settingchange program of the copier is described by referring to FIG. 23according to steps expressed by S in the drawing of the flowchartillustrating the flow of the print setting change processing in thesecond embodiment in FIG. 25. Note that this print setting changeprocessing is performed at S1101 of FIG. 24.

S1201: Setting change program 215 acquires copy setting 213 including adocument paper size, a printing paper size, and an enlargement/reductionrate from storage 212.

S1202: Setting change program 215 sets the acquired print setting assetting parameters for each item. For example, setting change program215 sets “A4” as the setting parameter of the document paper size, andalso sets “A4” as the setting parameter of the printing paper size, andsets “100%” as the setting parameter of the enlargement/reduction rate.

S1203: Setting change program 215 displays a GUI in which the settingparameter set at S1202 is reflected on display 13.

S1204: Setting change program 215 accepts the operation of changing thesettings of the respective items, which is made by user P through inputunit 201, and changes the settings of the items. For example, when theprint data illustrated in FIG. 3 is copied, the document size is “A4”and thus setting change program 215 keeps the setting parameter of thedocument paper size at “A4.” Then, since the enlargement/reduction rateis 141%, setting change program 215 changes the setting parameter of theprinting paper size from “A4” to “A3,” and the enlargement/reductionrate from “100%” to “141%.”

S1205: Setting change program 215 saves the changed setting in copysetting 213.

S1206: Setting change program 215 displays termination of the printsetting on the GUI. When it is determined that an “OK” button is presseddown in the GUI, the processing is terminated. When it is determinedthat a “Cancel” button other than the “OK” button is pressed down, theprocessing proceeds to S1204 and repeats the processing S1204 and 1205.

Next, print data creation processing to be performed by the copier isbriefly described by referring to FIG. 23 according to steps expressedby S in the drawing of the flowchart illustrating the flow of the printdata creation processing in the second embodiment in FIG. 26. Note thatthis print setting change processing is processing to be performed atS1104 of FIG. 24.

S1301: Charge setting acquisition program 216 acquires the documentpaper size, paper size names, widths, and heights of the printing papersize, and enlargement/reduction rates R (%) from copy setting 213.

S1302: Charge setting acquisition program 216 determines whether or notthe acquired enlargement/reduction rate R is 100%. When it is determinedthat it is 100%, the enlargement/reduction is not performed, and thusthe processing proceeds to S1313 to create page data having thedesignated setting. When it is determined that it is not 100%, theprocessing proceeds to S1303.

S1303: When it is determined that the acquired enlargement/reductionrate R is not 100%, fee acquisition program 216 acquires charge setting214.

S1304: Charge setting acquisition program 216 acquires I which is thenumber of items of charge setting 214. As illustrated in FIG. 7, chargesetting 214 is configured of paper sizes which are stored in trays A41to E45 of paper storage 206 as paper storage trays, a color unit priceas a color print unit price when color printing is made on each papersize, and a monochrome print unit price when monochrome printing is madeon each paper size. Thus, the number I of the items can be acquired fromthe configuration. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the number I ofthe items is 5.

S1305: Charge setting acquisition program 216 checks a scan state of thetarget document to be copied. Here, the image data which is obtained byscanning each page of the document is delivered to page data creationprogram 220 after scanning all the pages to be copied without beingdelivered to page data creation program 220 to be processed. During thistime, the image data which is obtained by scanning the document isstored in storage 212.

S1306: Charge setting acquisition program 216 proceeds the processing toS1305 until all the pages of the document are scanned. When the scanningis terminated, the processing proceeds to S1307. Note that the end ofthe scanning can be detected by a change in the state of the automaticdocument feeder of image scanner 204 from a state where paper is presentto a state where paper is absent.

S1307: Charge setting acquisition program 216, detecting the end of thescanning, acquires the total number N of pages of the print data to becopied from the scanned print data.

S1308: Next, enlargement/reduction mode list-up program 217 creates anenlargement/reduction mode list. Note that the processing of creatingthe enlargement/reduction mode list is similar to the processing ofFIGS. 11 to 14 in the first embodiment, and the description thereof isomitted.

S1309: Next, fee calculation program 218 calculates a fee for each itemof the created enlargement/reduction mode list. Note that the processingof calculating the fee for each item of the enlargement/reduction modelist is same as the processing of FIGS. 15 to 18 in the firstembodiment, except for the method of determining whether it is color ormonochrome, and the description thereof is omitted. In the method ofdetermining color or monochrome in the embodiment, when variations ofthe color information of all the image data are within a range ofthreshold for each of the RGB elements, it is determined as monochromewhile when variations thereof are outside the threshold, it isdetermined as color.

Here, the variations mean differences among the RGB elements. Forexample, in the case of RGB (0, 0, 0) and RGB (128, 128, 128), thevariation become “0” and in the case of RGB (126, 128, 130), thevariation becomes “4.”

S1310: Next, enlargement/reduction mode display program 219 displays theenlargement/reduction mode setting screen. Note that theenlargement/reduction mode setting screen is the same as that of thefirst embodiment.

S1311: Enlargement/reduction display program 219 accepts a selectionoperation of a desired enlargement/reduction mode by user P on theenlargement/reduction mode setting screen.

S1312: Enlargement/reduction mode display program 219 accepts anoperation of terminating the enlargement/reduction mode setting screenby user P on the enlargement/reduction mode setting screen. When OKbutton 123 illustrated in FIG. 4 is pressed down, the selectedenlargement/reduction mode is adopted for the page data creationprocessing. When cancel button 124 is pressed down, the selectedenlargement/reduction mode is not adopted for the page data creationprocessing but the enlargement/reduction mode designated in advance isadopted for the page data creation processing. At that time,enlargement/reduction mode display program 219 starts supplying theimage data stored in storage 212 with page data creation program 220.

S1313: Page data creation program 220 adopts the selected or designatedenlargement/reduction mode to create page data. Then, the processing isterminated.

As described above, in the second embodiment, in the copier, whenenlargement or reduction copy is designated, multiple different printmodes for obtaining a print result with the same enlargement/reductionrate are displayed on a display together with a fee thereof to inform auser so that the user can select a print mode. Accordingly, such effectcan be obtained that the user can select an optimumenlargement/reduction print mode by considering the fee among theprovided multiple print modes.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, an image processingsystem is described as a printer and a computer connected to the printerand a copier. However, the invention is not limited to these cases. Forexample, an image processing system may be a multifunction machine and acomputer which is connected to the multifunction machine and has afacsimile function or a multifunction machine which has a copy function.

The invention includes other embodiments in addition to theabove-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The embodiments are to be considered in all respects asillustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention isindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. Hence, all configurations including the meaning and rangewithin equivalent arrangements of the claims are intended to be embracedin the invention.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An image processing system, comprising: a firstinput unit that receives designation of print setting; an extractionunit that extracts a first output setting for printout of print databased on the designated print setting and a second output settingdifferent from the first output setting; a calculation unit thatcalculates a first fee corresponding to the first output setting and asecond fee corresponding to the second output setting; a display unitthat displays, on a single display screen, i) a first candidate havingthe first output setting and the first fee, and ii) a second candidatehaving the second output setting and the second fee, wherein the firstand second fee corresponds to total printing fees calculated based on anumber of printing media for printout of the print data under therespective first and second output settings and the respective first andsecond output settings; a second input unit that receives a user'sselection of one of the first output setting and the second outputsetting; and a controller that executes creation of the print data basedon the selected one of the first output setting and the second outputsetting, wherein the first candidate is related to a first value that isselected by the user and the second candidate is related to a secondvalue different from the first value.
 14. The image processing systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the print setting comprises at least oneof enlargement/reduction rate setting, color/monochrome setting, posterprint setting, N-up print setting, and print orientation setting. 15.The image processing system according to claim 13, wherein thecalculation unit calculates the total printing fee based on thedesignated print setting in addition to the number of printing media tobe printed.
 16. An image processing method, comprising: receivingdesignation of print setting; extracting a first output setting forprintout of print data based on the designated print setting and asecond output setting different from the first output setting;calculating a first fee corresponding to the first output setting and asecond fee corresponding to the second output setting, wherein the firstfee corresponds to a total printing fee calculated based on a number ofprinting media to be used for printing the print data under the firstoutput setting and the second fee corresponds to a total printing feecalculated based on a number of printing media to be used for printingthe print data under the second output setting; displaying, on a singledisplay screen, i) a first candidate having the first output setting andthe first fee, and ii) a second candidate having the second outputsetting and the second fee, wherein the first and second fees correspondto total printing fees calculated based on a number of printing mediafor printout of the print data under the respective first and secondoutput settings and the respective first and second output settings;receiving a user's selection of one of the first output setting and thesecond output setting; and executing creation of the print data based onthe selected one of the first output setting and the second outputsetting, wherein the first candidate is related to a first value that isselected by the user and the second candidate is related to a secondvalue different from the first value.